Issue - meetings

To receive a report the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing. In line with the provisions of the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard, all Registered Providers of social housing (RPs) are required to ensure that tenants are given a wide range of opportunities to influence and be involved in policy development work; decision-making in relation to service delivery; scrutiny of their landlord’s performance; and the setting of strategic priorities. 

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing. All Registered Providers of social housing (RP’s) were required to ensure that tenants were given a wide range of opportunities to influence and be involved in policy development work; decision making in relation to service delivery; scrutiny of their landlord’s performance and the setting of strategic priorities.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·         The Housing Service had always had a programme of tenant engagement but this had been brought to the fore since the Grenfell disaster.

·         Tenants were at the heart of everything the Housing Service did.

·         The Communications Strategy was key.

·         Staff training would be enhanced and there were many ways Members could also get involved, for example, by attending neighbourhood walkabouts.

·         There were 7 objectives within the Action Plan including timescales and expected outcomes.

·         There was a dedicated Tenant Involvement Team.

·         The digital approach was being expanded as well as opportunities for tenants to meet officers and other agencies face to face.

·         The team were reviewing their approach to surveys and the data collected.

·         Facebook was a very popular medium used by tenants to interact with the Council.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         Members were encouraged to email feedback to the team by email if they wished.

·         A ‘Housing Matters’ meeting had recently been held at the Leisure Centre in Crediton, a lot of other ad-hoc meetings had also been held, however, the team felt that not a great number of tenants were coming forwards to engage in this way anymore. Social media forums were proving more popular.

·         Training online would be developed further to assist tenants with accessing information.

·         There are Tenant Champion roles for tenants.

·         Regular and ongoing engagement with tenants at an early stage was key.

·         The escalation process.

·         Expectations had to be managed, the Housing Service still needed to prioritise issues such as Health & Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB).

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.